Probationer sexually assaults teen, authorities say

A 30-year-old Mountain Home man on probation for a methamphetamine possession conviction now faces a charge of second-degree sexual assault.

Gary Hargett appeared Thursday in Baxter County Circuit Court and entered a not guilty plea to the charge. Hargett appeared via video from the Baxter County jail where he's being held in lieu of a $51,860 bond.

The sexual assault charge stems from allegations made by a 16-year-old girl who said in a July 13 interview with an Arkansas State Police investigator that Hargett sexually assaulted her in the summer of 2016, when she was 15.

Hargett would have been 29 at the time, according to records.

The girl told the investigator that Hargett took her hand and put in on his penis. The girl also said Hargett fondled her breasts. The girl appears to make further allegations, however, the affidavit in the case has been redacted.

A news release from Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery also confirmed nude images were transmitted, in addition to the physical contact.

Three days after the girl was interviewed, Hargett was interviewed by law enforcement. During that interview, Hargett reportedly admitted to touching the girl's breasts on at least one occasion.

Hargett went on to tell investigators that the girl was the aggressor and that she touched his penis first. Hargett gave investigators another statement that officials redacted from the affidavit in the court file.

Second-degree sexual assault is a Class B felony punishable by up to 20 years upon conviction.

In addition to a potential prison sentence should he be found guilty on the sexual assault charge, Hargett also aces having his probation revoked.

That means he could be sentenced to prison for the remainder of his probationary period.

On Probation

At the time of the alleged assault, Hargett was on probation for a 2016 conviction on charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was sentenced to four years of probation.

In an affidavit filed in the meth case, a Mountain Home police officer said he went to check on a disabled vehicle on North Street in Mountain Home on June 1 of 2016. As the officer approached the vehicle, he saw Hargett smoking a glass pipe.

Hargett dropped the pipe on the ground and attempted to hide a cellophane wrapper as the officer approached. The officer recovered the cellophane wrapper and field-tested the crystalline substance contained in the wrapper. The test came back positive for meth.